The Swedru Circuit Court has sentenced three men for their involvement in a violent cutlass fight that occurred in the New Station Area of Akyem Oda, Eastern Region. The incident, captured on video and widely shared online, led to charges of fighting with a weapon and causing harm, resulting in jail time for two and a fine and bond for the third.
Context of the Incident
The confrontation, which unfolded publicly and was recorded by bystanders, involved George Okyere, 43, Evans Adayele, 20, and Joseph Nyabaah, 26. The graphic nature of the video sparked national concern about the increasing prevalence of violent altercations in public spaces within the Eastern Region.
All three individuals pleaded guilty to two counts: fighting with a weapon and causing harm, as stipulated by Sections 203 and 69 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Presiding Judge, Justice (name not specified), handed down sentences aimed at deterring similar acts of violence. Evans Adayele and Joseph Nyabaah received 12-month prison sentences with hard labour.
George Okyere, the eldest of the group, was ordered to pay a fine of 500 penalty units, equivalent to GH₵6,000. In addition to the financial penalty, Okyere was bound to good behaviour for three years, with a warning that any breach would lead to further imprisonment.
Accounts of the Confrontation
During the court proceedings, George Okyere provided a narrative suggesting the fight began unexpectedly. He testified that he was on a shopping trip to buy Wellington boots when he was approached by Adayele and Nyabaah, who arrived in a vehicle.
Okyere stated that the situation escalated upon his identification, though the specific reasons for the prior animosity between the parties remain unspecified in the court records. Despite attempting to portray the initial moments as a confrontation initiated by the younger men, Okyere admitted his participation in the ensuing violence.
Court documents noted Okyere’s confession:
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